As I write this, it’s May 18th, and we are getting ready to leave the Bahamas. We had planned to stay until the end of May, but life is what happens when you’re making other plans. There are obligations calling us north, it is time to leave. So here I sit in a secluded anchorage on the north end of Manjack Cay in the northern Sea of Abaco. It’s 6:52 PM, I’ve watched sharks and rays come right up to my feet as we walked along the beach here today. Foolish Heart was shadowed by a large dolphin on our sail here from Green Turtle Cay. I’m happy. It has truly been the event of my life.

There is a lot to do to make a safe crossing of the Atlantic back to Florida where we will begin the long slog up the Intracoastal Waterway to get home in the northern Chesapeake Bay. Today I replaced the zinc on the propeller shaft and scrubbed some of the “sea life” off the hull of the boat. We have to file a Float Plan with my sister Becky on the mainland, so if we don’t show up in a reasonable amount of time, the Coast Guard will know to come looking for us. Things need to be put away and secured on the boat so if weather gets rough, we don’t end up with a cabin strewn with debris from our life aboard. The engine on the dingy needs to be secured on the aft railing, and the dingy needs to be lifted and secured on the foredeck. The plan is to make the crossing in two days if the weather holds. We don’t want to leave now, but it is time. Few people ever get to experience something like this, and we consider ourselves very lucky. It’s just hard to let go. There is still so much to see and do.

Sorry this was posted a bit late, but better late than never!

We left the Bahamas last Monday, May 21st and sailed to Vero Beach Florida. We have watched a steady stream of cruising boats leave as people head north to escape the coming hurricane season. Feeling just a little bit sad, we turned Foolish Heart west and headed towards the U.S. with the catamarans Sojourner and Second Chance accompanying us for the crossing. After reprovisioning in Vero Beach for a few days, we have started heading north on the Intracoastal Waterway. It should take about 31/2 weeks to get home, but of course that all depends on the weather. We have had to slow down and hang out in Titusville to let tropical depression Beryl get out of our way. We have decided to leave today to resume the journey north. The picture is from May 20th as we were crossing the Bahama banks, and Sojourner was sailing off our starboard side. Thanks to Linda Clayton for the great picture!

Dorothy and me on the Bluff House beach on Green Turtle Cay. I'm getting pretty good at shooting these self portraits - no one is ever around!

We finally broke down and rented a golf cart for the day to explore the island here at Green Turtle Cay. We like to walk or rent bikes for the exercise, but roads here really aren't too good, so everyone drives golf carts with big knobby tires. I don't know what it is, but every time I rent a motorized form of transportation somewhere in the islands, it tends to be pink. Last time in Cozumel, I spent the day motoring around the island on a scooter with a pink helmet. I do my best to make it look cool...

While beach combing on Green Turtle Cay, Dorothy and I spotted this Hamburger Sea Bean. These things come from Africa on the currents and some cruisers go nuts for these things. I don't know if you can see it in this low resolution photo, but they do look like little hamburgers.

Preparing to go back to the states, here I'm cleaning the bottom of our dingy "Heart Beat" It's been about 6 weeks since I've done this, and the bottom was covered with some serious slime. Total cleanup time: 3 hours, no kidding. As I've said, "It's not all sunsets and Mai Tai's out here!"